Vending machine



R. P. SHARP VENDING MACHINE Sept. 28, 1937.

Filed Aug. 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 8.

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ATTORNEYS.

sept. 28,1937. R. P. SHARP 2,094,433v

VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v"Yll/ y /25 M u INVENTOR.

Rmb EFT F. E11-Larp ATTORN EYS.

Patented Sept. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vending machines and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machine including a coin controlled drawer and having a system of catches which will prevent opening of the drawer more than one time with a single coin. f

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vending machine capable of handling a variety of sizes and shapes of merchandise, such as candy bars.

Still another object is to provide an improved vending cabinet including a merchandise showcase having a merchandise passageway normally in communication with a coin controlled merchandise drawer which when opened will automatically close the merchandise passageway thereby preventing accidental interference or deliberate tampering with the drawer control mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved trigger release mechanism for association with a conventional reciprocating coin slide.

A still further object of the invention is to `provide an improved remotely controlled lifting implement particularly adapted for use by a customer in selecting goods contained within a selfservice vending machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which drawingsz Figure l isa perspective View of the improved vending machine and showing the merchandise drawer in a partially closed position.

- Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1 but showing the merchandise drawer in fully closed position. l Figure 3 is a detail vertical cross sectional view of the coin container taken on the line 3-3 of I'Figure l. l

Y rFigure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and showing the merchandise drawer in a closed position, andthe drawer control mechanism so poysitioned as tol permit closing but prevent opening of the drawer. I l Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but sho-wing the merchandise drawervi'n an open position, andthe drawer control mechanism so positioned as vto permit opening but prevent closing of the qlarW'-, f 4 y glass or the like.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view taken I substantially on the line 7-1 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lifting implement particularly adapted for association with the improved vending machine.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illus.- tration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may generally designate the improved vending machine comprising a showcase or cabinet B housing in its base a drawer control mechanism tray C, a merchandise drawer D, a coin container E, and drawer control mechanism F, while G may designate the improved merchandise lifting implement preferably associated with the vending machine A for conveniently making a selection from the goods H contained therein.

Referring first to the cabinet B, it may be in the form of a right rectangular parallelepiped having a base ID, a top Il, and an intermediate iloor I2 dividing the cabinet into upper and lower compartments I3 and I4 respectively. The lateral faces of the upper compartment may be provided with transparent panels I5 of plate The top II may be provided with a slightly overhanging edge I6 adapted to l hold the top in a substantially vertical position when the same is upwardly swung about the axisof hinge II. -A suitable lock I8 may be provided for the upper compartment. A pair of transparent panels I9 may be provided in slightly spaced apart relation v in the top whereby to form a relatively narrow elongate slit 20. The spaced apart' edges of the panels I9 may be provided with strengthening beads 2| substantially U shaped in .cross section whereby the edges of the slit 20 will be of convex or semi-cylindrical curvature. A suitable aperture 22 may be provided in the floor I2 and if desired an upright wall 23 maybe positioned adjacent an edge of the aperture.

. Mounted in the lower compartment I4 is the f drawer control Ymechanism tray C, vpreferably resting on and secured to the base I0 and, having a vertical front wall 24 flush with a later-al face of the cabinet. Y y

The merchandise drawer D may be positioned at -Vone side of the tray VC and is preferably prowvided with a front wall 25 normally flush with the'front wall 24 of the tray. ATo facilitate sliding of thedrawer D to an open or closed position, lateral guides 26 and relatively narrow drawer supporting runways 21 may be formed along the bottom of the tray. The drawer D may be provided with a semi-cylindrical pocket 28 adapted to communicate with the upper compartment I3 va the aperture 22 when the drawer is in its closed position. A plate 29 may be provided rearwardly of the pocket 28 whereby to close the aperture 22 when the drawer is in its open position. To prevent excessive movement of the drawer in either direction, the tray C may be provided with a fixed pin 36 adapted to coact with a suitable slot 3| in the drawer. A spring; 32 is preferably provided for urging the -drawer towards its open position.

As for the coin container E, (it may be positioned in spaced relation to the merchandise drawer D and is preferably'provided with a suitable lock 33. Y Y

Referring now to the drawer control mechanism F, it may include an elongate ratchet 34 affixed to the bottom of the drawer. Positioned above and adapted to normally rest upon and engage the ratchet 34 is a pawl 35 pivotally mounted as by an aXle 36 rotatably carried by a bracket 3l aixed toV the tray C whereby to provide a series of locked positions upon closing movement of the drawer and whereby to hold the drawer in its fully closed position. A trigger lever 38 may be secured to the axle 36 for lifting the pawl 35 out of engagement with the ratchet 34. If desired a spring 39 may be associated with the trigger lever to insure normal engagement of the pawl and ratchet. Secured to the bottom of the tray C in spaced relation beneath the trigger lever is a semi-frusto-conical shell 46 having an inclined arched outer surface. Mounted on the bottom of the tray C adjacent the drawer D is a pivoted catch 4| comprising a bell crank lever 42 having a lateral extension or dog 43 at the end of one arm thereof and a vertical extension or lug 44 at the end of the other arm thereof. A spring 45 may be associated with the catch 4| for urging the dog 43 toward the side 46 of the drawer D but when the drawer is in its open position the spring will urge the dog to a position somewhat rearwardly of the side 46. The spring 45 is of the contractile coil type and is preferably xed at one end to the bottom of the tray C while its other end is secured to the bell crank lever 42 adjacent the lug 44 thereof, as shown in Ydotted. line in Figures 4 and 5; and in full lines -in Figures and 7. A conventional reciprocable coin-slide 41 secured to and operable through the front wallof the tray C substantially midway between the drawerD and the coin container E kmay be employed for operating Ythe pawl 35 and the catch 4 I. To the inner end 48 of the slide one .leg 49 of a substantially V-shaped spring 50 may be secured. The other leg may be positioned below the slide while the vertex portion 52 of the spring may extend beyond the inner end 48 of the slide.

It will be noted that when the coin slide is normally positioned as shown in Figures 4 and 6,

the vertex portion 52 Vof the spring is out of contact with the trigger lever 38 permitting the pawl and ratchet catch to hold'the drawer ina closed position and that the leg 5| of thespring is contacting the lug 44 of the catch 4| thereby holding the dog 43 out of contact with the drawer.

From an inspection of Figures-5 and 7, it will be seen that when the coin slide is moved to its. coin controlled position, lthe leg 5| of the spring. will move outmof Contact withthe lug 44 thereby .per-

mitting the dog 43 of the catch 4| to engage the side 46 of the drawer and that the Vertex portion 52 will travel along the inclined surface of the shell 40 and wedge between the shell and the trigger lever 38 thereby moving the trigger lever sufficiently to cause the pawl 35 to disengage the ratchet 34.

The improved merchandise lifting implement G may include a single elongate tubular sleeve 53 of aV diameter somewhat less than the width of the slit 20 in the top of the cabinet through which the sleeve is adapted to extend. To one end 54 of the sleeve a leg 55 of an L-shaped jaw 56 may be fixed. A bell crank lever 5l pivoted to the end of the leg 55 and having an eye 58 formed in one Varm 59 thereof may be provided, the other arm 66 Ybeing talon-shaped and forming a movable -jaw adapted to co-act with the xed jaw 56.

To the other end of the sleeve 53, a circular handle piece 6| is secured. One endr62 of a reciprocable rod 63 carried by the sleeve 53 may project from the end 54 of the sleeve and be connected to the arm 59 of the movable jaw as by astirrup 64 secured to the end 62 of the rod and loosely passing through the eye 58. The other end of the rod 63 may project from the sleeve and be provided with a circularV handle piece 65.l An expansion coil spring 66 may encircle the projecting end of the rod 63 between the handle pieces 6| and 65.

Preferably, the goods H, such as various shapes .and sizes of candy bars 65'|0 are stacked in rows in a systematic fashion, the upright wall 23 tending to prevent accidental falling of the goods through the aperture 22. Any articles which in a general way are similar in shape and size may be satisfactorily vendecl, it being understood that the merchandise pocket 28 may be proportioned to receive a plurality of articles having a total value equivalent to the value of the Ycoin required to operate the coin slide.

In operation assuming that the lifting implement G is positioned in the slit 2D as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and that the drawer and control mechanism are in their normal positions as shown in Figures 4 and 6, a customer will first move the lifting implement along the slit to a satisfactory position above or near the desired article. It will be noted that due to positioning of the rod 63 within the sleeve 53, the lifting implement may not only be swung to various angular positions within the cabinet but may also be rotated in the slit 20 whereby the jaws may be brought into position for engaging an article regardless of its position in the cabinet. By pressing the handle pieces toward each other, the spring 66 will be compressed and the rod 63 will move toward the jaw end of the implement, thereby swinging the movable jaw away from the xed jaw and to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8.Y To pick up the article the jaws preferably are first caused to straddle the selected article and then by releasing the pressure exerted on the handle pieces, the spring 66 will be permitted to expand thereby causing the jaws to.V firmly grip the article. Y 4carried the article to the aperture, it may be re After the customer has V Vrect-value is placed in thercoin slide, which may --then be rnoved in a coin controlled direction to the position shown in Figures 5 and 7. This movement will nrst permit the catch 4| to operate and subsequently will release the pawl and ratchet catch. The drawer D will then open under the `influence of the spring 32 and carry the article in the pocket to an accessible position exteriorly of the cabinet. If, after removing the article from the pocket the customer attempts to close the drawer without first returning the coin slide to its normal position, thisrwill be prevented by engagement of the catch 4| with the side 46 of the drawer after the drawer has been moved inwardly a relatively short distance as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5. Furthermore, if the customer partially returns the coin slide and then attempts to close the drawer, the pawl and ratchet catch will engage the drawer as it is moved inwardly and upon further movement thereof, the catch 4l will engage the side of the drawer. When this occurs, movement of the drawer in either direction will be prevented until the coin slide has been returned to its normal position and has caused the leg 5I through the lug 44 to swing the catch 4l out of engagement with the drawer. The drawer may then be fully closed in readiness for another purchase.

It will thus be seen that a drawer control mechanism has been provided which prevents opening of the drawer more than a single time with each coin used and which requires the customer to return thecoin slide to its normal position prior to a complete closing movement of the drawer.

Various changes may be made in the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A vending machine comprising a cabinet having a drawer, a catch adapted to hold the drawer in a closed position, a second catch adapted to hold the drawer in an open position, a reciprocable coin slide movable in one direction to release the rst catch and permit the second catch to operate, and movable in the opposite direction to permit the rst catch to operate and to releasethe second catch.

2. A vending machine comprising a cabinet, a drawer slidable inwardly and outwardly thereof, a pawl and ratchet catch adapted to provide a series of locked positions upon inward movement of the drawer and to hold the drawer in a closed position, a second catch adapted to hold the drawer in an open position, a reciprocable coin slide movable in a coin-controlled direction torelease the rst catch and permit the second catch to operate, said slide being movable in the reverse direction to permit the first catch to operate and torelease the second catch.

3. A vending machine comprising a cabinet, a drawer slidable inwardly and outwardly thereof, a spring urging the drawer outwardly thereof, a catch including a ratchet secured to the drawer and a pawl pivoted to the cabinet and adapted to provide a series of locked positions upon inward movement of the drawer and to hold the drawer in a fully closed position, a second catch adapted to hold the drawer in an open position, a recipirocable coin slide movable in a coin-controlled direction to release the rst catch and permit the second catch to operate, said slide being movable in the reverse direction to permit the rst catch to operate and to release the second catch.

4. A vending machine comprising a cabinet, a drawer slidable inwardly and outwardly thereof, a pawl and ratchet catch adapted to provide a series of locked positions upon inward movement of the drawer and to hold the drawer in a fully closed position, a second catch adapted to hold the drawer in an open` position, a reciprocable coin slide movable in a coin-controlled direction to permit the second catch to operate and to release the rst catch, and movable in the opposite direction to first permit the rst catch to operate and subsequently to release the second catch.

5. A coin operated drawer control comprising a catch adapted to normally hold the drawer in a closed position, a trigger associated with and movable for releasing the catch, a surface positioned in spaced relation to the trigger, a second catch adapted to hol-d the drawer in an open position, a coin slide provided with a tapered end and operable in one direction to wedge between the trigger and said surface whereby to move the trigger for releasing the rst catch, said coin slide being operable in another direction to move the second catch to a released position whereby to permit closing movement of the drawer.

6. A coin operated drawer control comprising a catch adapted to normally hold the drawer in a closed position, a trigger associated with and movable for releasing the catch, a second catch adapted to hold the drawer in an open position, a reciprocable coin slide operable in one direction to actuate the trigger whereby to release the first catch, said coin slide being operable in a reverse direction to move the second catch to a released position whereby to permit closing movement of the drawer.

ROBERT PERRY SHARP. 

